The Knife of Never Letting Go - by Patrick Ness

Outstanding Epic Perfect for Teen Boys and Adult Sci-Fi Readers
Wow! I LOVE this story! The main character, Todd has grown up in a settlement where all the women have mysteriously died off and the men are plagued with the ability to hear each other's thoughts - or "noise". When Todd discovers a "hole" in the noise, the following events quickly propel him on a journey of discovery while at the same time plunging him into a world of horror. As he pieces together his own history with that of larger world, the sense of looming apocalypse swells. The frontier-like setting takes on surreal quality as the reader discovers more and more about where the book's characters are and how they got there. I'm reminded at times of "Lost" and Cormac McCarthy's The Road when reading this. The characters are flawed and evolving (a good thing) with the fast-paced, highly original story. Especially recommended for teen boys, though girls will like it, too, this title is the first in Ness' "Chaos Walking" series. Addictive, thought-provoking and rich with western-esque sci-fi drama, The Knife of Never Letting Go will leave readers scrambling to find the second book, The Ask and The Answer, in which things become even more chaotic...and compelling. Storytelling at its best - Highly recommended for Teen and Adult readers.

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong - Ghost Whispering in a Darker Setting for Teens

No vampires here (yet) but ghosts aplenty, as Kelley Armstrong presents the first in the 'Dark Powers' series, The Summoning. The tale opens with Chloe Sanders, who's struggling to hang onto her sanity as she attracts the spirits of the dead who long to be heard or noticed. Events send her to a group home where she discovers herself among other 'talented' teens who may or may not be safe company for her. Flavors of "Ghost Whisperer" are here, but the setting is darker and the encounters more sinister. Closing with a open-ended finale, YA and teen readers will be compelled to follow the story into the second book in the series, The Awakening. Recommended! (Harper Collins)

Witch Child by Celia Rees

Witch Child by Celia Rees

Having spent so many of my college years reading historical fiction (not the "romance" historicals - smile!), i was slow to pick up Celia Rees' teen fiction take of American colonial persecution of women perceived as witches. I am SO VERY glad that I overcame that reticence because Witch Child is an amazing foray into this time period with all the paranormal flavors that young adult readers are hungry for lately. In a nutshell, the book is essentially a collection journal entries and diaries of fourteen-year-old Mary who is spirited away from England in the wake of her grandmother's execution for witchcraft. The writings are being presented by an 'Alison Ellman' circa modern day. The story of Mary's efforts to leave her history behind as she strives to fit into a 17th century frontier community are met with both success and suspicion. Her inherent gifts rise to meet the wildness of the country and its native people, while superstitious and cult-like community elders work to paint her as a witch. The story and the writing are refreshingly original and addictive. And just when you think the tale is winding down, the last entries in the book set-up a wildly innovative twist that propels the story toward the second book in the series. Highly recommended! (Teen - Adult, Candlewick Press)